Recently the Moms Demand Action - MI Facebook page thanked, with the hashtag ‪#‎BackgroundChecksSaveLives‬, state Representative Jim Townsend for introducing legislation that would require a license and a background check in order to purchase, carry, possess or transportany firearm.

We are happy to announce that yesterday (5/12/2015) the Brandishing bills, which were written by MOC's legislative team, became law. These bills, for the first time in Michigan, define brandishing and in doing so make it clear: OPEN CARRY IS NOT BRANDISHING!

HB 4160 has been signed as 2015 Public Act 27. HB 4161 has been signed as 2015 Public Act 28

"No one knows the mindset or the frame of mind an individual is in when they show up at a building openly carrying a weapon," stated Jim Baker, Superintendant of Huron Valley Schools in a Detroit Free Press article published on the 29th of October, 2014. This type of statement is commonly thrown around when people try to argue for prohibiting the practice of openly carrying pistols in schools. "They immediately go into a lockdown, call local law enforcement and let the police come and helps to better understand what the mindset is." Id.

MCOLES (The Michigan Commission On Law Enforcement Standards) posted their firearm standards on the internet. The only problem is you need a password to view the encrypted PDF. According to the page, their agent, Danny Rosa, will only provide you the encryption password if you can provide your MCOLES number to demonstrate you are an active law enforcement officer.

No worries, through the magical powers of FOIA, MOC is here to help...

It has often been said that, as open carriers, we are ambassadors of the firearms community. I believe this to be true, and as such we should present ourselves in the best possible light. But it seems lately we have become more than ambassadors: we have become targets.

On Wednesday, March 11, I sat through the Ann Arbor School Board meeting because they were scheduled to discuss the issue of guns in the schools. What I heard coming from the school board, as well as from the attendees, was very telling. While every baseless, emotional, over-reactive argument I expected was there, that was not what was surprising to me.

As set forth in the precedent setting opinion of Capital Area District Library v. Michigan Open Carry, Inc, school Districts are barred from making rules forbidding the lawful carry of a pistol. Yet, many districts throughout the state continue to do so with illegal policies and bullying. Michigan Open Carry, Inc (MOC) has partnered with Kenneth Herman to file suit against Clio Area Schools (CAS). Mr. Herman is a dues paying member of MOC.

Starting in 2013, Mr. Herman has, and continues to be, aggrieved by CAS. His constitutionally guaranteed right to self defense has been chilled as a result of threats of arrest and criminal prosecution should he not comply with CAS’s unlawful policy related to firearms. As a result of these unlawful actions on the part of CAS, he has been unable to defend himself while attending to business or other functions at his daughter’s school.

Senator Rick Jones posted in the “Grand Ledge Community” group on Facebook regarding a legislative news release we made about SB 53. He stated in the post that it was announced that a vote on SB 53 would be held in the Judiciary Committee Hearing on February 10th. Funny thing is, we can’t find a single document or recording that backs up his statement that a notice was given.